Tear Jerker / Cake Boss

• Yeah, there were cakes in the Season 5 finale. Don't ask what they were; the main focus of the episode was the news that Buddy's mother has been diagnosed with ALS.
  • Later episodes feature how upsetting it is for herself and the Buddy and his sisters because they talk about how she's gone from an active, independent woman who could move about the bakery to struggling to do basic, everyday tasks like writing and walking and relying on round the clock care.
• Early in season three of Cake Boss spin off Next Great Baker, contestant James Brown announced that he had been diagnosed with a benign brain tumor and would leave in place of whoever lost the competition. Cue tears from almost everyone, including guest judge Lou Ferrigno.
• In the episode "Hurricane Sandy Strikes", we see the aftermath of the storm for Buddy and his crew. Though Carlo's Bakery miraculously survives no damage other than no electric power, they also feature footage of the devastation of Buddy's hometown Hoboken and a few other New Jersey cities. Especially since he feels he has an obligation to his customers and he may have to either greatly change or be unable to give them what they want.
• Paul Conti, a former contestant on season 3 of Next Great Baker, comes to Buddy begging for a job because aside from losing his previous job after that show, his and his mother's house was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. Buddy is hesitant, especially because Paul and the season 3 winner Ashley Holt who is working at Carlo's as part of her win infamously do not get along, but feels bad enough for him to give him a job since Carlo's does currently need the extra help. (Naturally, Ashley is not happy to see Paul once again)
• The death of Mary Valastro Piccinch (Buddy's mom) and how Buddy, their family and the crew at the bakery were devastated by her death in the episode, "Farewell to Momma Mary."

---